British gather to commemorate Magna Carta

June 15, 2015 9:23 AM

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RUNNYMEDE, England — The British royal family on Monday will lead commemorations to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, a document that has come to symbolize democracy and equal rights under law, along with a spectacular ceremony in front of an audience of thousands.

Eight hundred years ago, things were less jovial for Queen Elizabeth II’s predecessor here in a leafy green meadow called Runnymede, about 20 miles west of London, where rebellious barons met with a reluctant King John of England.